Information and Library Network CentreGandhinagar, Gujarat

SOUL 2.0

© INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar https://www.inflibnet.ac.in/soul/

Software for University Libraries 2.0 (SOUL 2.0)

The second version of Software for University Libraries (SOUL) is a state-of-the-art integrated library management

software designed and developed by the INFLIBNET Centre based on requirements of college, university and other

academic libraries. It is a user-friendly software developed to work under client-server environment. The software is

compliant to international standards for bibliographic formats and circulation protocols. After a comprehensive study,

discussions and deliberations with the senior professionals of the country, the software was designed to automate all

house-keeping operations of library. The software is suitable not only for the academic libraries, but also for all types and

sizes of libraries, even school libraries. The first version of software i.e. SOUL 1.0 was released during CALIBER 2000. The

latest version of the software i.e. SOUL 2.0 was released in January 2009. The database for new version of SOUL is

designed for latest versions of MS-SQL and MySQL (or any other popular RDBMS). SOUL 2.0 is compliant to international

standards such as MARC 21 bibliographic format, Unicode based Universal Character Sets for multilingual bibliographic

records and NCIP 2.0 and SIP 2 based protocols for RFID, electronic surveillance and control.

Major Features and Functionalities

Major features and functionalities of SOUL 2.0 are as follows:

: UNICODE-based multilingual support for Indian and foreign languages;

: Compliant to International Standards such as MARC21, AACR-2, MARCXML;

: Compliant to NCIP 2.0 and SIP 2 protocol for RFID and other related applications especially for electronic surveillance

and self check-out & check-in;

: Client-server based architecture, user-friendly interface that does not require extensive training;

: Supports multi-platform for bibliographic database such as MySQL, MS-SQL or any other RDBMS;

: Supports cataloguing of electronic resources such as e-journals, e-books, virtually any type of material;

: Supports requirements of digital library and facilitate link to full-text articles and other digital objects;

: Supports online copy cataloguing from MARC21-based bibliographic database;

: Provides default templates for data entry of different type of documents. User can also customize their own data entry

templates;

: Provides freedom to users for generating reports of their choice and format along with template and query parameters;

: Supports ground-level practical requirements of the libraries such as stock verification, book bank, maintenance

functions, transaction level enhanced security, etc.;

: Provides facility to send reports through e-mail, allows users to save the reports in various formats such as PDF, Excel,

MARCXML, etc.;

: Highly versatile and user-friendly OPAC with simple and advanced search. OPAC users can export their search results

into PDF, MS Excel, and MARCXML format;

: Supports authority files of personal name, corporate body, etc.;

: Supports data exchange in ISO-2709 standard;

: Provides simple budgeting system and single-window operation for all major circulation functions;

: Supports global search and replace functionalities;

: Online software update;

: Strong region-wise support for maintenance through regional coordinators. Strong online and offline support by email,

web chat and through dedicated telephone line during office hours; and

: Available at an affordable cost with strong institutional support.

SOUL 2.0

: Acquisition

: Catalogue

: OPAC

: Administration

Each module has further been divided into sub modules to cater to functional requirement of libraries:

Acquisition

Acquisition Module facilitates automating the process of ordering, receipt, payment and budget control. The module

enables library staff to handle all major functions related to acquisition, such as

: Circulation

: Serial Control

: Suggestions management

: Order processing, cancellation and reminders

: Receipt, Payment and budgetary control

: Auto accessioning

: Auto generation of letter number

: Master files such as currency, vendors, publishers etc.

: Reports

Catalogue

Catalogue module is used for retrospective conversion of library resources. It also facilitates library staff to process the

newly acquired library resources. The salient features of catalogue module are:

: Allows cataloguer to create their own templates for data entry for different types of library resources

: Different templates for leaders and fixed fields of MARC21 records

: Allows user-generated customized reports

: Facilitates authority database of person name, corporate body, subject headings and series name

: Supports copy cataloguing in MARC 21 format by using ISO-2709 standard

: Supports master database of publishers

: Multi-lingual database by using unicode character set

: Supports full MARC 21 bibliographic format

: Facilitates generation of spine label, barcode & book card

: Supports global search and replace functionalities

: File attachment: catalogue card printing

Circulation

This module takes care of all possible functions of circulation. Utmost care was taken to design this module with built-in

functionalities for membership management, maintenance and status of library items, transaction, ILL, overdue charges,

renewals and reminders, search status and report generation according to the status of the items. The Circulation Module is

fully compliant with the NISO Circulation and Interchange Protocol (NCIP) version 2.0 and SIP 2 protocol for electronic

surveillance and RFID-based transaction of the items. Major functions of the circulation module are:

: Membership

: Transaction

: Inter-library loan

: Overdue charges

: Reminder

: Search status

: Stock verification

: Maintenance of the items such as binding, lost,

replace, missing, withdraw, etc.

: Book bank/Group issue

: Customize member card

: Report generation based on the various requirements

: Import members from Excel worksheet

On-line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)

One of the major attractions of SOUL is its robust On-line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). The OPAC has simple and

advanced search facility with minimum information of documents available in database by author, title, corporate body,

conference name, subject headings, keywords, class number, series name, accession number or combination of any of two

or more information. OPAC offers the following functionalities:

© INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar https://www.inflibnet.ac.in/soul/

Modules

The SOUL 2.0 consists of the following modules.

: Simple Search

: Boolean Search

: Advanced Boolean Search

: Displaying and downloading of records in MS Excel, PDF or MARCXML

: Web-based member interface through OPAC

: Search support for the items that are in the acquisition process in the library

Serial Control

Managing serials is the most complicated job for a library. The module keeps track of serials in the library effectively and

efficiently. The serial control module is developed based on the KARDEX system and has following functions built into it:

: Suggestions Management

: Master databases

: Subscriptions Management

: Article indexing of journal/book articles

: Cataloguing of electronic journals

: Check-in of individual issues of journals

Administration

The module is divided into three major sub-modules, namely User management, System Parameters and Masters. The

Administration Module offers following features:

: Grouping of users based on the policy

: Transactional rights over the systems

: Transaction level security to users

: Various configuration settings such as labels, e-mail and other parameters related to the software use

: Common master databases being used in modules

: Database backup

: Payment, reminder, binding, and history

: Keeps track of the history changes of the

journals

: Export / import using ISO 2709 bibliographic

exchange format

: MARC21 entry/edit option

SOUL 2.0

For further information please contact

Dr. H G Hosamani, Scientist-C(LS)

Mrs. Hema Cholin, STO-I (LS)

Mr. Vijaykumar Shrimali, STA-II (CS)

Prof J P Singh Joorel